High-pressure washing equipment

ABSTRACT

High-pressure washing equipment adapted to deliver either of two cleaning fluids selectively against hard surfaces to be cleaned and having for its principal object to provide simplified controls adapted to be selectively operated to deliver a multiplicity of cleaning fluids in the form of a high-pressure and high-velocity spray, said equipment incorporating a sequential valve.

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Inventor Milton L. Ballou Gloversville, NSY.

Appl. No. 23,656

Filed Mar. 30, 1970 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Assignee' Lennawill, Inc.

Gloversville, NX.

HITCH-PRESSURE WASHING EQUIPMENT 3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

lint. Cl BOSE) 9/00 Field of Search 239/61,

124, 127 X,71; l37/ll5, ll6X, 117

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,246,845 4/1966 Techler eta1 239/124 X 3,49l ,948 1/1970 Alexander 239/127 3,522,909 8/1970 Arant239/127 Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Attorney-John P. Murphy 2? 25 I xit.

14 I2 15 IT 230 -u I l l PATENTED 8EP28 l97| 3508.824

sum 2 or 4 I 1 h l 14 FIGURE 3 m FIGURE 4 Milton L. B0! lou INVENTOR.

PATENTED SEP28 l97| $608,824 sum u; 0r 4 FIGURE 9 FIGURE i0 MILTON L.BALLOU INVENTOR BYW W lI-IIIGIII-IPRIESSIURIE WASHING EQUlllPll/IIEN'IIBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to high-pressure washing equipment involving pressures ofseveral hundred pounds per square inch, and more particularly relates toa system wherein the multiplicity of switches, relays, solenoids andrelated equipment are eliminated and a more trouble-free and positivecontrol is provided.

2. Description of the Prior Art In high-pressure cleaning apparatususing fluids ejected at relatively high pressure and, in particular, tocleaning apparatus which delivers a multiplicity of different cleaningfluids, such apparatus has required complicated electrical systemsincluding relays, solenoids, and related wiring, as exemplified by theTechler et al. patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,845 and US. Pat. No. 3,l18,610. Failure of such equipment required extensive repairs, and lossof production.

Similar systems are shown in the following patents: R. R. Curtis et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,705; K. .I. Heinicke et al., U.S. Pat. No.3,322,350; and H. A. Poppitz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,417.

SUMMARY As contrasted with the prior art, described above, the presentinvention provides a cleaning apparatus for multiple fluids which are tobe ejected under high pressure, particularly for use in automobilewashing and similar applications such as the cleaning of engines,machinery and the like, which has a positive control that is triggeredhydraulically at the nozzle of a control gun, and which eliminates mostof the control circuits including relays, solenoids, etc. for operatingthe system of which the apparatus is a part.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatushaving a positive mechanical control for the flow of cleaning fluids,requiring only the availability of conventional l IO-volt AC electricalpower, and a water supply at conventional distribution pressure of 3590pounds per square inch for its operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaningapparatus having a wide range of control of the proportions of twocleaning fluids to be discharged by the apparatus.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a cleaningapparatus having an accurate means for controlling the ratio of onecleaning fluid to another introduced into the apparatus from separatefluid-supply sources.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaningapparatus which eliminates the danger of electrical shock to theoperator by eliminating all electrical wiring at theoperator-manipulated discharge nozzle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cleaningapparatus of the type referred to in which the pump, which raises thepressure of the cleaning fluids to elevated, discharge pressure, cannotbe operated unless the supplydischarge gun is operating.

My invention also includes certain other novel features of constructionwhich will be more fully pointed out in the following specification andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration ofmy flow system including the principal elements of my improved controls;

FIG. 2 is a detail showing of the sequential valve and the unloadervalve, illustrating the relationship and cooperation between theseelements;

FIG. 3 is a sectional top view with parts broken away showing theelements of the sequential valve;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevation with parts broken away showing thesequential valve cooperating with the lever by which it is actuated inresponse to the movement of the piston rod on the unloader valve;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the unloader valve showing the operatingelements;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the injector for the soap solution;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a two-stage injector.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a suitable spray-headvalve for my control;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the spray head valve; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the switch for starting and stopping thepump.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings indetail, FIG. I shows a schematic illustration of the flow system,including the principal elements of the improved controls. As shown inFIG. 1, water is brought in from a tapline at pressures ranging from 35to pounds per square inch and flows through line 12, through check valve14, through line into an inlet of pressure reducer 16 where the pressureis reduced to 30 pounds per square inch. Pressure reducer 116 is aconventional pressure reducer and may be of any one of several typeswhich are available commercially. The water then passes through conduit17, into liquid injector 18 (FIG. 6). Injector 18 is shown in detail inFIG. 6, and is of simple construction and with no moving parts. As shownschematically in FIG. 6, a liquid under pressure enters the injector 118through the nozzle 19 and is converted into a jetstream. Thishigh-velocity jet and the accompanying low pressure create a flowthrough the suction tube 20 and into the injector 21. The mixture thenflows through the diffuser 22, where pressure is recovered. A portion ofthe energy is imparted to the fluid drawn in through the suction tube,so the reconverted pressure cannot be as high as the supply pressure.For maximumpressure recovery, or minimum-pressure loss, a two-stageinjector may be used. (FIG. 7). The small booster stage draws in fluidat a vacuum and discharges into the intermediate pressure region of thelarger second stage. In this way, approximately only one-half of thetotal pressure recovery occurs in each stage. Consequently, thetwo-stage injector can operate more efficiently at high dischargepressures.

Fluid enters the inlet 19 and issues from outlet 23 of the injectorthrough line 23a to pump 24 which is a motor-driven pump capable ofraising the pressure of the fluid (either water or soap solution) to 500pounds per square inch. The fluid then passes through line 25, throughunloader valve 26 (FIGS. 1 and 5) to a flexible high-pressure line,through conduit 27 extending to a spray head 28, having an elongatedtube 29 extending to a spray nozzle 29a. The head 28 has a handle 30 fordirecting the spray from the nozzle against the surfaces to be cleanedand a manually operable lever 31 projects from the head 28 adjacent tothe handle 30 for operating a valve contained within the head. Asuitable valve for the head 28 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown, thelever 31 is pivotally connected to the head 28 by a pin 32 and a plunger33 is operatively connected to the lever 31 at one end and has a rod 32aextending axially from the plunger and a valve closure member 34 ismounted on the opposite end of the rod 32a extending axially from theplunger and a valve closure member 34 is mounted on the opposite end ofthe rod 32a. An annular seat 35 is formed in a valve end fitting 36 forthe closure member 34. This valve is normally biased toward closedposition by a coiled spring 37 which surrounds the plunger 33 and isconfined between an annular flange formed thereon and the spray headhousing. As shown in FIG. 9, the closure member 34 is hexagonal in shapeso that when the valve is opened by operation of the level 31, the fluidpasses the member 38 through a cylindrical bore in the head 28acontaining the member 38. Assuming unloader valve 26 is in the open position and the trigger 31 of spray head 28 is closed, there will be noflow out of the spray head and the back pressure on the line 4l0 willoperate against the piston 62 of the unloader valve 26 to maintain theunloader valve in the open position. As valve 26 is opened, fluid isrecirculated to bypass line 43 back through conduit 23a to pump 24. Asthe trigger 31 of the spray head 28 is opened, the pressure is releasedon the piston 62 of unloader valve 26 so that valve 21 is closed, thuspermitting the flow of fluid through the unloader valve 26 and the sprayhead 28 under 500 pounds pressure per square inch.

Unloader valve 26 has a bypass port 45 connected to a bypass conduit 43disposed in continuous communication with the pump-inlet conduit 23a anda branch 67 of the bypass conduit 43 extends from passage 63 to aball-type check valve consisting of a closure member 68 to normallyclose the passage 67 at an annular seat 68a. This check valve preventsflow form the passage 67 to the port 45 when the member 68 is closed atits seat 68a.

Pressure-responsive means are provided for unseating the ball-closuremember 68 and opening flow through the bypass passage 67 and conduit 43when the pressure in the flexible conduit 27 exceeds a predeterminedvalue. For this purpose a chamber 60 in the housing 62 is disposed incontinuous communication through a passage 61 with the passage 63 andport 65. Within the chamber 60, a piston 90 is movable axially andcarries a piston head 91 and a pin 92 projecting beyond the piston forengagement with the check ball or closure member 68. Projecting axiallyfrom the piston 90 through an opening in the housing 62 is a stem 93carrying exteriorly of the housing a spring-confining washer 94 and aspring-tension-adjusting nut 95 for holding a coiled spring 96 undercompression. This is a stiff spring 96 which retains the piston 90 inits retracted position against a predetermined high pressure in thechamber 60. When pressure in excess of this predetermined pressuredevelops in the chamber 60 above the piston 90, the latter forces thepin 92 downwardly to unseat the ball valve member 68 and allow flow fromthe outlet of the pump through the conduit 25, passages 67 and 43, andconduit 23a, to the pump inlet. This unloader valve prevents damage tothe pump when flow through the spray head 28 is cut off.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, as piston 90 is moved axially, stem93 moves downwardly thus actuating lever 75 of the sequential valveassembly and thereby moving ratchet wheel 76 through latch 77. Ratchetwheel 76 is mounted on the valve stem shaft 96, and is secured by thesetscrew 120. This moves the valve 71 through a 45 angle of rotation,thus opening soap-supply line 110 and moving a soap supply through line97 into the injector l8, and supplying soap solution to thehigh-pressure line. The next time the valve stem moves in response tothe operation of the trigger 31, the ratchet wheel is moved another 45thus the sequential valve is closed, shutting off the flow of soapsolution.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve body 71 has a smoothly machinedtapered seat of approximately included angle bored through the valvebody. At right angles to the valve seat and on the centerline of thevalve body, the flow orifice 115 is drilled which meets tapped holes 113to 114 for pipe fittings on each end of the valve body.

The valve stem 72 has the same taper as the valve body. An orifice 74 isdrilled at right angles to the valve stem at a point that will coincidewith the valve-body orifice when the stem is inserted in the taperedvalve seat. Another orifice 73 is drilled through the valve stem whichwill intersect orifice 74 at 90 from it.

An eight-point ratchet wheel 76 is mounted on the valve stem shaft andis secured by the setscrew 120.

The valve stem 96 with ratchet wheel 76 is held in place by thecompression spring 79 and pressure plate 11 1.

The valve 71 is opened or closed by a 45 rotation of the valve stem. Therotation of the valve stem is accomplished by the vertical motion of thelever arm 75 and latch 77 working as engaged with the ratchet wheel 76.Part 100a is the mounting plate for the valve assembly.

OPERATION In operation, water enters from a city waterline through aball-check valve and a pressure-regulating valve which cuts the pressureto a standard 30 pounds per square inch. From the regulator, the waterflows through an injector 18 which employs the Venturi principle toinduct a soap solution into the waterline. The twin-piston pump 24,driven by a Ya-HP motor (not shown), develops 500 psi at 2 gallons perminute.

In the high-pressure line, there is an unloader valve 26. When thenozzle 29, at the end of the high-pressure line is closed, the backsurge of pressure causes the unloader valve 26 to open, bypassing the 2gallons per minute of water or soap back to the inlet line of the pump.When the unloader valve unloads, the piston in the valve travelsdownward against an external coil spring. A lever arm hooked to the topend of this downward-travelling piston rod, operates the ratchet wheelof the sequential valve causing it to rotate 45. This closes the valveif it is open or opens it if it is closed. As the valve is in the soapsolution line which is connected to the suction arm of the injector, iteither permits or prohibits the flow of soap. Thus, the valve providesboth soap and rinse cycles triggered hydraulically at the nozzle by acontrol gun. When the nozzle is reopened, the unloader valve closes,moving the piston shaft upward, and the latch downward so that itengages the next succeeding notch in the ratchet wheel ready for thenext cycle.

To adapt my invention for use in self'service carwash installations, Iprovide a lever-operated switch having a housing indicated generally bythe numeral in FIG. 10. A toggle switch 181 within the housing 180 is ofthe conventional type which is closed when the gun is not operating, forholding the power circuit closed. When the switch circuit is closed bythe movement of lever 75, the circuit is energized and remains energizedthroughout the cycle of operation. As indicated in FIG. 10, upon theclosing of the switch 181, the circuit is closed thereby energizing themotor. Assuming that upon the closing of the switch 181, the manualvalve under control of the lever 31 at the spray head 28 is closed,either water from the inlet 12 or cleaning solution from the containeris drawn into the pump inlet through conduit 23a and passes through theoutlet conduit 25 until the pressure in the chamber 60 rises to a pointwhere the piston 90 is moved downwardly as seen in FIG. 5 to unseat thecheck-ball member 68 and open flow through the bypass passage 67,conduit 43 and pump-inlet conduit 23a.

If at the time of the closing of the switch by the movement of lever 75,the circuit is energized, water will be fed to the pump inlet, andcleaning solution will be withdrawn from the reservoir to the pump inletand will be recirculated through the unloader valve from the pump outletto the pump inlet as hereinbefore described. A bay area is indicatedgenerally by the broken line 83 (FIG. 5). The automobile or othervehicle to be washed is parked in the bay area within reach of the sprayhead at the end of the flexible conduit 27.

It will be evident that my improved pressure washer has no electricalcontrol switches at the handle of the spray head. The shift fromsupplying soap solution to supplying rinse water under pressure throughthe flexible conduit 27 is accomplished merely by the pressure drop inthe line acting on the pressure-responsive piston 90 each time the lever31 is released. Thus, in order to change from soap solution to rinsewater at the nozzle or from rinse water to soap solution, it is onlynecessary to release the lever 31 and then squeeze it again.

For installations where alternating current is not available, or whereit is desirable to make the washer readily portable, the pump 24 may beoperatively connected to an internal combustion engine, and electriccurrent for operating the solenoid valve, signal and pressure switchcircuits may be supplied from a battery carried by the washer carriage.

I claim:

1. In a pressure washer, a power-driven pump having an inlet and anoutlet connected by a flexible conduit to a spray head including ahandle for directing the spray from said head, a first valve controllingflow through said head; conduit means for supplying liquid to the inletof said pump and having a first branch connected to a source of waterand a second branch connected to a source of cleaning fluid, and asecond sequential valve controlling flow of cleaning fluid through saidsecond branch to said pump inlet, the improvements which comprise asequential valve which is opened and closed in response to the movementof the stem of an unloader valve for opening and closing the conduitsupplying soap solution to the

1. In a pressure washer, a power-driven pump having an inlet and anoutlet connected by a flexible conduit to a spray head including ahandle for directing the spray from said head, a first valve controllingflow through said head; conduit means for supplying liquid to the inletof said pump and having a first branch connected to a source of waterand a second branch connected to a source of cleaning fluid, and asecond sequential valve controlling flow of cleaning fluid through saidsecond branch to said pump inlet, the improvements which comprise asequential valve which is opened and closed in response to the movementof the stem of an unloader valve for opening and closing the conduitsupplying soap solution to the system.
 2. A pressure washer, inaccordance with claim 1, in which said sequential valve is operated by alever and ratchet in response to the movement of the stem of an unloadervalve which is actuated by a piston responding to the pressure upon theclosing of a shutoff valve in a spray head.
 3. A pressure washer, inaccordance with claim 1, in which a toggle switch is operated inresponse to the movement of a piston stem of an unloader valve whichopens and closes a circuit for operating and shutting off a motor-drivenpump.